Crowds turn out to welcome home Grand National hero I Am Maximus

Grand National winner I Am Maximus received a hero's welcome in Leighlinbridge, County Carlow on Tuesday evening.

Trained in nearby Closutton by Willie Mullins, the eight-year-old won the Randox-sponsored Aintree spectacular on Saturday in impressive fashion, enhancing a season which has already seen the all-conquering yard send out the winners of the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, along with numerous other top-level races at home and abroad.

I Am Maximus was the second winner of the race for Mullins, following the victory of Hedgehunter in 2005, while nephew Emmett trained Noble Yeats to win the race two years ago.

The joy in the area since Saturday afternoon has underlined what the success means to all associated with the JP McManus-owned bay.

The Grand National is different, as Mullins acknowledged this evening: "It is. It's the one race everyone wants to win from the time they start off watching TV, it's the race most people see on TV. It's fantastic for Paul [Townend, jockey], owner JP McManus and Noirin [wife of the owner], for Closutton.

"We're all delighted. It's great for the locality as well to have a Grand National winner. Our second Grand National winner. Emmett won it a few years ago but hopefully it will become more of a tradition."

I Am Maximus, who has recovered well from his weekend exertions, is likely to be a campaign towards the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

"He'll have to take on his stablemate Galopin Des Champs who is over there in the box, and that is plan A I think. I'm not sure going back to handicaps again would be a good idea," Mullins revealed.

In the meantime, there's a tilt for the handler at the British jumps trainers' championship, with Vincent O'Brien the last Irish trainer to